Andre hits Steffi in face--stitches required

HOUSTON (AP) - Steffi Graf required three stitches Sunday after husband Andre Agassi inadvertently hit her in the face with his racket during a fundraiser that followed the final of the U.S. Clay Court Championships.
Graf and Agassi were holding hands - her left to his right - while rallying with a couple of youngsters when Agassi's follow-through struck his wife in the face.
Agassi held his racket in his left hand.

After she was hit, Graf lifted her left hand to her mouth and walked off to the side of the court with Agassi following closely behind her to check on her well-being.

She wiped her mouth with a towel before leaving the stadium for an on-site doctor to administer three stitches to her lip, officials said. It was not clear whether the cut was to the inside or outside of her mouth area.

She suffered no damage to her teeth, officials said.

"She's OK," Agassi said. "It was an unfortunate accident."

Agassi and Graf were in Houston because Agassi is part of a reality show called 'The Big Give,' an upcoming Oprah Winfrey production. An auction benefiting an elementary school in the Houston vicinity chosen for the show raised at least $225,000 Sunday.

The doctor who paid $70,000 for a trip to play tennis with the couple stitched up the multiple Grand Slam winner.

Agassi retired last year at the U.S. Open, having won eight Grand Slam titles. Graf retired in 1999 with 22 Grand Slam titles. The couple has two children and live in Las Vegas.

Ivo Karlovic of Croatia won the clay court title Sunday, his first, when he beat qualifier Mariano Zabaleta 6-4, 6-1.

What is unreal is that it was the same very doctor who was able to stitch her. Did he bring all the tools with him, was him in his city or close to his hospital or what? Very strange.

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I'm always suspicious about "reality" shows, because people will do anything for fame and money (even millionaires want more of it). I'd have to see a close-up of the injury, in order to believe it's true... And, if it's true, what the heck were they doing holding, hands while playing tennis???!!! Stupid.

I'm always suspicious about "reality" shows, because people will do anything for fame and money (even millionaires want more of it). I'd have to see a close-up of the injury, in order to believe it's true... And, if it's true, what the heck were they doing holding, hands while playing tennis???!!! Stupid.

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It is a goofy stunt that Wayne Bryan uses during halftime of the Sacramento Capitals World Team Tennis matches. You handicap the pro players who are hitting against club players by forcing them to hold hands at all times. Since Bryan was there for the Tennis Channel, and Agassi formerly played for the Capitals, I'm sure that's where the idea came from

It is a goofy stunt that Wayne Bryan uses during halftime of the Sacramento Capitals World Team Tennis matches. You handicap the pro players who are hitting against club players by forcing them to hold hands at all times. Since Bryan was there for the Tennis Channel, and Agassi formerly played for the Capitals, I'm sure that's where the idea came from

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Well, it's stupid and I'm surprised nobody had smashed his racquet in his partner's face before... Still, I'm not sure I believe Graf had to have stitches, mainly because this is to be included in the previously mentioned "reality" show and everything else...

I'm always suspicious about "reality" shows, because people will do anything for fame and money (even millionaires want more of it). ....

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Me too. Hmm, "reality" shows, man. Weak.

Hopefully this one is on the really real, and it's more like that home improvement show for families who really need help...and not some vehicle for self-promotion. Ideally, Oprah and company are doing it strictly for the kids.

"Well, it's stupid and I'm surprised nobody had smashed his racquet in his partner's face before..."

Haw, haw! this thread is funny.

You know why no-one had "smashed his racquet in his partner's face before"? Because usually people would be very careful not to do just that. But not Andre, no - he saw an opportunity: the opportunity to make "whacking Steffi in the face" look like an accident!

I'm always suspicious about "reality" shows, because people will do anything for fame and money (even millionaires want more of it). I'd have to see a close-up of the injury, in order to believe it's true... And, if it's true, what the heck were they doing holding, hands while playing tennis???!!! Stupid.

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Andre and Steffi were playing 2 ball kids, and Andre/Steffi were leading.
Wayne bryan then told them he would handicap them by making them play while holding hands.
Andre and Steffi muddled around a bit and them came up with having Steffi continue playing right handed while her left hand held his right hand and he played with his left hand (he was hitting pretty solid left handed forehands).

Ont he very first ball with this configuration the ball kids hit a ball wide to the duece court. Steffi tried to get it but Andre didn't move and she laughed about it. They disunited and then united again.

The ball kids hit to andre and he hit 1 left handed forehand and the next one hit Steffi in the mouth.

I was in the second row of box seats and you could see blood on the towel she was using to cover her mouth. It didn't look like the type of cut that would need stitches though.
Anywho she left the court while Andre stayed and played the ball kids.

I am surprised Graf didn't block the racquet with her hands before it hit her. She used to be a top ranked player so she has to have very quick reflex. But then maybe Agassi's swing was too fast for her reflex.

I am surprised Graf didn't block the racquet with her hands before it hit her. She used to be a top ranked player so she has to have very quick reflex. But then maybe Agassi's swing was too fast for her reflex.

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I don't even know why you would play tennis holding hands. That is so high school.

I'm always suspicious about "reality" shows, because people will do anything for fame and money (even millionaires want more of it). I'd have to see a close-up of the injury, in order to believe it's true... And, if it's true, what the heck were they doing holding, hands while playing tennis???!!! Stupid.

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Right - Oprah Winfrey and Andre Agassi - two people who NEVER do anything charitable - you have good reason to be suspicious of THOSE TWO. And, of course Andre's only doing it for the fame and money... And of course they discussed it before hand and Steffi - being such a good sport - agreed to be hit in the mouth and get stitches, cause it'll make "great tv".
Of course, that's if she even needed stitches...maybe the doctor was persuaded to give her 3 stitches because it would make a better story.